Philippians 4: 11-12 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Today has been one of those days where I can honestly confess that I am content. Today is Tuesday, and on Tuesdays the G house unit (Death Row) is just that… DEAD. Nothing really goes on Tuesdays. Most of the time there are no inspections. No store call (commissary), no visits, and no attorney visits. NOTHING. Just your normal things such as meal time, showers, and mail call.
Death Row is totally different from any other prison setting. For 23 hours a day we are confined to an 8 by 8 cell. Everything, I mean everything is brought directly to you. In other prison settings, inmates must leave their unit to go eat, receive mail, take medication, and do other things. Not so in G-House. Everything comes to you.
We are issued standard prison garb that other convicted prisoners in the state of Georgia wear. White uniform shirts and pants with a blue strip running down the side of them and a pair of black boots. At other prisons you are required to be “state dressed” until 4 p.m. However, the rules are different for G-house. I was telling my dad the other day that I wear pajama’s 24 hours a day, all week long. The only days that you will see Joshua Drucker “state dressed” is on Saturdays and Sundays for visitation, or if the inspection team comes around.
So here I sit wearing a grey pair of pajama’s and a pair of socks. Which by the way, I need some new ones sent in because they are getting holes in them (smile). I have EVERYTHING I need as I have been beyond blessed for these last 8 years.I have a CD player, a very nice study Bible, a bible concordance, Webster’s dictionary, some novels, pens, paper, cosmetics, and a few food items to keep me from going hungry at night. On my shelf I have a few medications that keep me alive; blood pressure pills and prilosec. And a very nice watch that my aunt purchased for me.
I am not depressed, worried, angry, bitter, bored, lonely, or upset. Neither am I feeling blah. I don’t know if ‘blah’ is a word or not, but Sharon and I use it in our letters when we feel like we are not existing. I have a peace today that passeth human understanding, and TODAY I am happy and blessed to be alive. I know very well that my thoughts and feelings could change at any moment, with any letter received, or phone call made, but right now I am content.

Philippians 4:11-12  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

For most of the day I have laid around and done absolutely nothing. I have written two letters and I probably won’t write anymore tonight. From 2:30 to 4:30 this afternoon I laid in bed and thought about my family, prayed for them, prayed for the readers of TCM, and meditated on God’s Word. And now I am writing a sermon, that is even if I decide to actually send it out.
I have mentioned many , many times that I really enjoy reading over the book of Philippians. This is a book that the Apostle Paul wrote from the inside of a nasty, run down prison. Some Bible scholars believe that the prison was nothing more than a large sewer. Paul could have  possibly penned the words of this book as he stood in urine and human dung. And as he closes out the letter in the fourth chapter of Philippians Paul writes - I’M CONTENT.

CONTENT (Webster’s): having desires limited to whatever one has: SATISFIED

I know that some of yall may be in a rush, but read over that definition again and ask yourself; am I content? “Having desires limited to whatever one has: SATISFIED.”
You and I both could both “stand more”. Yes, you could use a bigger home, nicer car, larger bank account, a better, sweeter woman!! (Smile)
Back to my point, truthfully speaking we could all stand more. Even I could have more food on my shelf, more CD’s to listen to, and more pairs of tennis shoes. But my question to you is, when is enough? When we have one car, we want two. When we live in an apartment, we tell ourselves, “I will be satisfied once I get a house.” Then we will get the house and we will want a bigger one. Even with this ministry, when we started off with 42 readers I said, “I can’t wait to be reaching 100 people.” Then when we reached 100, I wanted to reach 200. Then when we got there I wanted 300. More, more, more… everyone wants MORE.

Philippians 4:11-12 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

If you will look closely at the above two verses, Paul writes that “contentment” is something that he “learned.” It was something that  the highs and lows of his personal journey’s had taught him.
Paul wrote that he had once “abounded”, ate with Kings and great religious leaders. And he has also lived abased. He has lived in prisons and at times went weeks without eating.
Contentment is something that must be learned; and the only way it can be taught is through experience. Let me write that one more time. God teaches contentment through experience. You cannot learn to be content by reading a religious book or going to a seminary school.
Just as he did with Joseph; God will allow you to be thrown into a pit, then promoted to a palace in order to teach you the lesson of contentment. God will open up the windows of heaven one year, then allow a drought the next. And during each season He will expect you to be satisfied and praise His name.
An old rock group years ago wrote the lyrics that said, “ I can’t get no satisfaction.” During this time this group was one of the hottest groups around. They had more money, more women, more power, and more drugs then they knew what to do with. They had everything that the world had to offer, but still could not get any satisfaction. The reason why they could not get any satisfaction is because the only road to contentment is through Christ. That is why in verse 13 Paul screams, “ I can do ALL THINGS through Christ that strengthens me.”

Philillipains 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

We have heard this verse preached so much as a tool to “get” and a tool to “do”, but the truth behind this verse is, “ I can be content in any situation because it is Christ that gives me the strength to be content.” Oh yes, it take strength to be content. It takes strength to be sitting in a prison with no end in sight but still be able to say that you are satisfied. It takes strength to be living in a place of lucrative lifestyle and continue to confess, “ I am satisfied with Jesus. Even though I could have women, drugs, sex, and other lustful cravings; I will not indulge. Jesus is enough.” That is the true meaning of verse 13.. Strength to be content. If you can be satisfied in any and every situation in life, you truly CAN DO ALL THINGS.
You can be content today wherever you are. You can be living in a trailer or in the ghetto with nothing to eat but canned food and ramon noodles and still be satisfied. You can be 45 years old, never married, with no children and still feel fulfilled. You can be sleeping on the top bunk at one of the worst prisons in the world, with a 75 year sentence and still have a purpose to live, a desire to fight, and a reason to dream. Who says you have to be sad? Who says you have to be lonely? Who told you that you have to get bitter or angry?
I have been sent by Jesus Christ all the way from Jackson Georgia on Georgia’s Death Row to tell you to get up out of your condition. Stop being sad, stop being mad, quit feeling sorry for yourself, and definitely stop blaming yourself. Get into the Word of God and begin believing what He says about you, your life, and your future. Not what the devils says, not what you say and not what people say. When you learn what God says about you it will give you a reason to be content. Because even if you are down right now; you will know that it will not last. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning. Paul was in that Philippian jail for a season; but his season ended and he was eventually released.
My prayer tonight is for God to give you the strength to be content. I would much rather be at an Atlanta Hawks game tonight, or out eating, but right now that is impossible. I can moan and complain about it or I can pick up a book, listen to a CD, pray, or read my Bible. If I choose the latter than I have learned to be CONTENT. Excuse me while I put my headphones on. I have learned a lesson.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

God Bless
Joshua Drucker